The research concept "Sustainable Spatial Development and Mobility" is one of 12 research concepts, which shall be developed under responsibility of the Steering Committee of the Association of Education-Research-Technology for the period of 2004-2007. The official overarching concepts are analyzed and transparently coordinated. The research concept "Sustainable Spatial Development and Mobility" must be developed in close cooperation between the contractor, ARE (project management) and other interested federal agencies and an advisory group of external experts. The coordination with the research concept "Sustainable transport" is of particular importance.

Thematic priorities of the research concept are:

Foundations of a sustainable development policy

Perspectives of sustainable land use and transport development

Interactions between Settlement and Transport

Sustainable land use planning, settlement patterns and living arrangements

Sustainable development in the agglomerations

Regional Policy

Sustainable leisure mobility

Spatial Development and Energy

Objectives:

The main aim of the project was development of the research concept "Sustainable Spatial Development and Mobility" for 2004-2007.

Methodology:

The theme "Sustainable Spatial Development and Mobility" includes town and country planning in the narrow sense and the spatial aspects of sectoral policies, mobility issues, esp. transport studies and traffic behaviour, the cross-cutting aspects of sustainable development, which is run by ASTRA and BAV, or the research concepts regarding Energy (BFE), Environment (BUWAL), Agriculture (FOA), and Sport (FOSPO), etc. The research on "sustainable transport", "environment", "agriculture", "sport and exercise" and "energy" are co-ordinated.